What You Should Know About Acupuncture

This web site provides information on acupuncture, including frequently asked questions, concerns and issues to consider, and a list of sources for further information.

Many cities and towns around the United States now have professionals who practice acupuncture. These professionals are highly skilled in the practice of alternative methods. Patients usually go to the practitioners of traditional medical treatment first, but many then seek help through acupuncture if they do not find satisfaction with regular doctors and nurses. Some insurance companies will now consider payments for acupuncture treatment. People will not usually seek acupuncture for serious conditions such as cancer or heart disease.

For Many People Acupuncture Is Very Effective

Often times people now use acupuncture as complementary medicine. These alternative medicine practices are also used to help people break bad habits such as smoking. This type of alternative medicine has been used for people suffering chronic pain, nausea and several other troubling conditions. There has also been some success in using these alternative medicines to help people lose weight. The techniques used in acupuncture seem a bit harsh when first illustrated, but acupuncture is not painful or uncomfortable.

The professional acupuncturist uses very small needles inserted at specific points in the body to achieve the goals of the patient. The skilled professional uses needles that are hygienic to prevent any type of infection. These needles are much thinner than the needles that people are used to when they are in need of a traditional shot. The needles are inserted at strategic points chosen for specific benefits. The skilled person will insert the needles in specific points for someone with headaches. The same professional will insert the needles differently for those trying to kick a bad habit. There have been many people who have used these alternative medicines with great success, and the demonstrated success for some conditions has led to more people seeking this type of treatment.

How widely is acupuncture used in the United States?

In the past two decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners--for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions.1 According to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey--the largest and most comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)A group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. use by American adults to date--an estimated 8.2 million U.S. adults had ever used acupuncture, and an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year.

Acupuncture For Weight Loss

Acupuncture for weight loss procedures are based on the Asian concept of the essential flow of chi—your life energy force—through certain meridians in your body. I these meridians become blocked, your chi does not flow freely, which results in physical or emotional symptoms of poor health.